Gareth Barry: Ross Barkley Should Show Steven Gerrard-like Consistency

Everton midfielder Gareth Barry is of the opinion that Ross Barkley can one day become like the Steven Gerrard of Everton but he needs to come up with performances on a more consistent basis.


Barkley is seen as one of the latest highly talented youngster from the famed Everton youth academy. Over the years, several top stars like Wayne Rooney have emerged from these stables. After having been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City in the last few years, Everton have been able to keepBarkley even without the European football.

After recently undergoing a managerial change to bring Ronald Koeman to Goodison Park, the club has spent substantial amount of money in order to aim for European qualification on a regular basis. As a youngster,Barkley will know that he will have to face a lot of disappointments as he gains experience. One of the latest has come in the form of being left out of the England squad by manager Sam Allardyce. Even thoughBarkley has started the season in sparkling form, he has missed out on the squad announced by the new manager. Forcing his way into the new manager’s thoughts will be extremely difficult, but Barry reckons that it is possible with consistent performances.

“It was a massive surprise for him not to make the squad having come off the summer not playing any minutes at all.His consistency has improved and that is the one thing all top players need. To keep doing that week in, week out, like the Gerrards and Lampards have done for 15 years, that is what he needs to achieve. But he has all the ability.He has got strength, he uses both feet, he is learning to get in the space behind midfield and is delivering goals and assists with it now,” said Barry.